Tips

Various tips collected about integrating technology when teaching online and blended classes.
Feel free to add your own.

• Use Video Screencasts & Podcasts in Asynchronous Online Courses or as a Supplement: Especially when teaching an asynchronous, online course, I highly recommend making some short video screencasts (or audio podcasts) in which you speak directly to the online students (not just uploading a video of a classroom lecture) and explain what they are doing that week. At the very least make an introductory video/screencast/podcast to put on the front page or top of your class site, introducing the class (and yourself). This has a noticeable positive affect on students - they feel the instructor has more presence in the online course, and also it helps them to see what you are trying to teach, rather than just read about it or so forth.
  • Here's a research article supporting the idea: http://jolt.merlot.org/vol5no3/rose_0909.htm
  • Here's an example of a class I taught in which I made video screencasts each week: http://internetdev.usu.edu/outline
  • Here's an example class that uses audio podcasts to explain the activities each session: http://ci438-2010.wikispaces.com/
• Individual Differences in Students. When you have classes in which students have varying levels of abilities or experience, there are different techniques you can use to help them.
  • Collaborative learning. Have students work together on projects, and/or share what they know with one another. Wikis, for example, are good for collaborative work.
  • Glossary. You can use moodle or a wiki or website to create a glossary of terms for those students who are unfamiliar.
  • Differentiated instruction. You don't have to teach the same exact thing the same exact way to every student. You can tailor it to the individual students. Google the term differentiated instruction for many references.
• Keeping on topic. When using discussion boards or having students comment on blogs or wikis, try to anchor the discussions around something, such as a text passage or picture or video, to encourage students to comment about the content, and relate their comments to the reading or whatever.
  • Here's a research article on the same topic: http://www.informaworld.com/smpp/content~db=all~content=a785041759
• Make participation count.
• Don't digital natives. Walk them through how to do it.